Winter Air Pollution: Delhi State School Games to End by October, Govt Tells High Court; Plea Disposed Of

The Delhi government has informed the Delhi High Court that all Delhi State School Games (DSSG) for the 2026-27 session would conclude by October, before the onset of peak winter air pollution, following which the court disposed of a plea seeking a change in the school sports calendar.

The assurance was given before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in a petition filed by a group of students, who had sought rescheduling of outdoor school sports events to avoid the months when Delhi experiences its worst air quality.

During the hearing, the counsel for the State submitted that the revised sports calendar for the 2026-27 session schedules the Delhi State School Games (DSSG) in a manner that ensures their completion before pollution levels typically spike in the capital. Taking the submission on record, court closed the proceedings.

The petition, filed by 11 school students, sought directions to the Delhi government to avoid scheduling outdoor school sports events during November to January, when the capital's air quality routinely falls into the "severe" and "hazardous" categories. Senior advocate Shyel Trehan, appearing for the students, urged that annual sports calendars, including zonal, inter-zonal, state and national tournaments, trials and coaching camps for outdoor disciplines, be planned during months with comparatively cleaner air.

The matter had earlier prompted the court to call upon the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to examine the issue and consider issuing appropriate directions so that school sports activities could be shifted to safer months.

The petitioners had relied on medical evidence highlighting that prolonged exposure to high levels of PM2.5 during childhood could impair lung development and increase the risk of chronic respiratory diseases later in life.

In compliance with the concerns raised before the Court, the Delhi government revised the sports calendar for the 2026-27 session.

Under the new schedule, around 40 sporting disciplines of the Delhi State School Games will be held during September and October, with the final event slated to conclude on October 19.

Schools have also been directed to complete zonal competitions, eligibility verification, preparation of fixtures and other preparatory work well in advance to ensure timely completion of the state-level competitions.

[Inputs: Indian Express]